Grants Pass needs real, effective solutions to our worsening homeless crisis, not the beginnings of a never-ending “homeless industrial complex.” The Vine Street proposal, which spans almost 8 acres, is exactly the kind of large-scale center that invites long-term dependency and mission creep. The people in charge say it won’t be fully developed and will remain small but we all know, it will grow at some point (more on this issue below). We must instead prioritize small, controlled, cost-effective responses that minimize our footprint and focus on helping those who genuinely want change.
It should be clear that Grants Pass neither needs nor requires a large homeless shelter facility. Under the current injunction, the City of Grants Pass is required to accommodate approximately 150 people in existing camps. After watching the most recent “Listen and Learn” session on HB 3115, it became apparent that one potential solution is a small, managed shelter, operated by nonprofits, that could house around 150 individuals and require less than two acres of land.
This managed shelter should include a designated low-barrier area to help meet legal obligations. Such a setup would allow the city to close, or at least significantly reduce, the current unmanaged city-run camps. Only a small portion of space may need to be maintained as a low-barrier zone.
It also became clear that, due to the lack of significant legal precedent surrounding HB 3115, especially concerning what is considered “objectively reasonable” when challenged in court, Grants Pass has effectively become the test case for how this law will be interpreted and enforced.
You can watch the, “City of Grants Pass Listening & Learning Session: HB 3115 Unhoused regulations May 19, 2025” https://www.youtube.com/live/YXYPThHMweA?feature=shared
Any homeless response must require:
A well define size (less than 2 acres), defined scope of the project and location(s). These components are critical for any community shelter to be approved by the community. There must full transparency with full community involvement with live questions and answer sessions. These projects must not be rushed or pushed through with little to no community involvement.
Shelters must be:
Run by nonprofits, not the city.
Focused on proven solutions from other Oregon cities.
Fully transparent with live community input before decisions are made.
Two distinct homeless populations:
Those who want help and are ready to work toward stability. I suspect this is a small population.
Chronic addicts who reject help but rely on handouts to maintain a self-destructive lifestyle. I suspect this is the majority of the population.
We must stop enabling the second group. Free tents, food, and clothing only prolong the problem. It prevents the addicts from never reaching that rock bottom that they need to reach in order to want/seek help. Instead, enforce existing laws and conduct nightly wellness checks to disrupt drug use and discourage long-term encampments. Law enforcement plays a critical and important role in reducing the chronic addict population.
Ensure no mega homeless complexes:
Initially this program was called “Built For Zero” (1) but it was revealed by Dr. Robert Marbut (appointed by Trump administration) during his talk at the March Patriots Conference that “Built for Zero” program was a known left leaning housing first program. Dr. Marbut believes in housing fourth, not first. Built for Zero’s initial plans, from I have heard, was for a 500-600 mega complex. This program was then re-branded as the Pathway To Stability, the longer version is: Stepping Stones Stabilization Center. The re-branding doesn’t change its core. We must ask: who’s pushing this, and why? If Vine St and any other large lot is taken off the table -Watch carefully who pushes back and why. Any large lot should be taken off the table.
Law Enforcement:
Law enforcement must be consistent and visible, 24/7 enforcement will help reclaim public safety. Citizens need to speak out to the city council and police chief regarding this lawless. Lawlessness is driving out families and businesses. Random wellness checks during the evening at these encampments to reduce overdoes and deaths and at the same time discourage routine drug use in these encampments. Municipal court system (meaning for local city issues only) needs serious consideration as this will slow the catch and release that is currently going on.
State Law HB3115 should be challenged:
Lastly, Grants Pass should form a coalition with other cities to legally challenge Oregon’s HB 3115. This law strips cities of local control, exposes taxpayers to lawsuits, and prioritizes transients over residents. Until it’s repealed or overturned, our hands are tied. It was mentioned in the listen and learn forum that SB 593 was a bill to repeal HB3115 but like the other bills to repeal HB3115 (SB645 and HB2432) these bill are never allowed to move beyond their committees for any discussion or vote. See;
Oregon Legislative Bills to Repeal HB 3115 – Homeless Regulations
https://avoicewithin.org/oregon-state-legislative-bills-to-repeal-hb-3115-homeless-regulations/
Summary:
Grants Pass must reject mega-centers, enforce laws consistently, and support only those who seek real help. Small, nonprofit-run facilities, paired with legal reform are the only sustainable path forward. Lately, City Councilors must come together for the good of the community and find a cost effective solution to this homeless problems that has plagued our community for years. It is time to do what you were elected to do – a solution to the homeless problem.
(1) 2/5/2025: U-Turn for Christ to introduce vision to combat homelessness in Grants Pass
https://kobi5.com/news/top-stories/u-turn-for-christ-to-introduce-vision-to-combat-homelessness-in-grants-pass-265201/
“U-Turn for Christ will get city and county officials as well as non-profits under one roof to introduce its vision to implement the ‘Built for Zero initiative’ in Grants Pass.”
“It’s a housing-first, data driven initiative…“
While all this has the sound of “the way to go” we should not leap before we look deeply at what Grants Pass’s taxpaying citizens want for an outcome. We all want rid of the “injunction” but at what cost? do we want this to be another failed experiment that gets out of hand and is not driven by those that eventually pick up the tab for “grants to non-profits”; port-a-potties; the taxpayers- and still have those who don’t wish to take advantage of the new camp still wandering the town like the walking dead, until they need their next high and commit another crime to get money for it? I have heard this plan was originated in 2011 in a City document and if it was rejected back then, if it was so great, why? There was hardly even a need for it then.
Personally, I think there should be a lot of transparency in anything that is done. There should be plenty of tiem for the public to ask questions and give input. Further, in no way should this community accept anything greater than what we have to. Meaning, we do NOT need almost 8 acres of land for a small group of people. We do not need to encourage people to come here as an attraction to the homeless. The city is not in the homeless business and needs to take steps to ensure it is not by using grants and nonprofits to run a small managed area. As far as what happen back in 2011 I am unsure what happened and what plan was offered up at that time…..
I agree with you logic and plan. Really we are providing for the homeless 2 designated camp sites. plus we have 1or now 4 inside safe places for choices to accommodate people. These include the two Parker buildings by BiMart, our Gospel Mission, and another one on Lind Rd (U can organization ?) and another spot which is for youth under 21 on Rogue River Hwy.
Out of all these places, can’t we make something work? Do we go to one person at a time and give an option? We all know most aren’t going to wear a “pick me” sign. Families that are in a bad spot with kids usually will accept a little religion at Gospel Mission for the sake of kids, unless they to are too far gone in substance abuse to rally for their kids. Sad because there are beds and family help available.
It’s nice that they have a place for under 21. Hope it is working well. Never see young people hanging out front of it and never garbage strewn around. Hopefully they are keeping them in school.
Parker’s buildings I’m not sure of the criteria to be there. Bad weather, a place for??? I’ve seen ambulance and fire trucks there quite a bit. Usually an overdose reported in paper.Ran or owned by doctor’s?
Just what I’ve heard. Has cute hanging flower baskets now. I know BiMart is not happy with situation ( personal opinion expressed) to me.
The new U can place on Lind Rd for (50? men) sounds promising, but again has religious leaders.
So that leaves 2 camps on 6th and 7th streets for those with No personal choice to make a change for the better.
My question is how do we legally get to the place to really help some of these people that have potential to clean up but don’t know it at this time? So are WE the problem not stepping up to make decisions for those past that point. WE keep enabling.? The cycle has to be broken
Yes, it seems like we constantly are bending over backwards to give these people everything we can. From our parks to our own town down, we are basically being evaded and so little we can do. To me this is insane and it is the law, HB3115 and those who crafted this law that have done so much damage to our city or lives and our state. We are almost prisoners in our own town and home. Crime is so bad you don’t even want to be out at night. This is nuts. Its not like thy aren’t places for them, just not good enough for them which is disgusting.
Since when is a mission not good enough for anyone, especially when you don’t have food in your stomach or a roof over your head – yet to many the mission isn’t good enough. Our lawmakers have lost what is left of their marbles. Parker building was nothing more than a waste in which MINT did a middle finger to our town, knowing very well the community didn’t want that area used for the homeless (right in the entrance to the town and next to our famous park). This entire mess has gone on too long. Something has to change and soon.